Advocacy Updates

FEDERAL

Beneficial Owner Reporting

Attention all business owners! Beginning on Jan 2024, most U.S. companies will have to report information about their beneficial owners, i.e., the individuals who ultimately own or control the company.

If your company was created or registered before January 1, 2024, you will have to report electronically through FinCEN's website before Jan 1, 2025. If created after January 1, 2024, you will have to electronically files within 90 days of notice of creation or registration. Any updates or corrections must be submitted within 30 days. More more information, visit: www.fincen.gov/boi.

 

STATE

New Sick and Safe Time Law

Effective Jan. 1, 2024, Minnesota’s earned sick and safe time law requires employers to provide paid leave to employees who work in the state. This means that as a business owner, you need to start preparing now to ensure that you comply with the new law. Sick and safe time is paid leave that employers must provide to employees in Minnesota that can be used for certain reasons, including when an employee is sick, to care for a sick family member, or to seek assistance if an employee or their family member has experienced domestic abuse.

An employee is eligible for sick and safe time if they work at least 80 hours in a year for an employer in MN; and are not an independent contractor. Temporary and part-time employees are eligible for sick and safe time. An employee earns one hour of sick and safe time for every 30 hours worked and can earn a maximum of 48 hours each year unless the employer agrees to a higher amount. Sick and safe time must be paid at the same hourly rate an employee earns when they are working.

To help get started, the DLI is providing resources on their website (we included links in our e-newsletter in early October). If you have specific questions, reach out to the Labor Standards Division of DLI at 651-284-5075 or dli.laborstandards@state.mn.us. As always, please let us know if we can help in any way.

Other Resources:

A Guide to Minnesota's Laws About Sick and Safe Time

Small Business Call Employers Paid Leave Question and Answers and Additional Information

 

Pay History Ban

Effective January 1, 2024, employers can no longer ask a candidate’s current or past pay history during the hiring process, with the intent to close the gender and racial pay gap. This law applies to employers of all sizes and types. Going forward, employers must rely on an applicant’s skills, education, certification, licenses, and other qualifications, as well as the job market, to set pay. Be sure your applicant materials are updated to make sure they do not ask for pay information.

Find additional information and resources on the Pay History Webpage.

 

PFAS in Food Packaging Law

Beginning January 1, 2024, the sale and distribution of food and beverage packaging containing intentionally added PFAS chemicals will be prohibited in Minnesota (Minn. Stat. 325F.075).

This PFAS in food packaging prohibition was passed in 2021 and is separate from requirements in 2023 PFAS legislation, including Amara's Law, which will phase out other avoidable PFAS uses in Minnesota by 2032.

*New Information* 

At that time, intentionally added PFAS will be prohibited in products from 11 categories under Amara’s Law. The MPCA’s interpretation of the statutory definition of each of these categories will determine which products the prohibition on intentionally added PFAS applies to.

For example, the prohibition on PFAS in the dental floss category will include any product designed to be drawn between the teeth to remove food particles and prevent dental plaque. The prohibition on PFAS in the upholstered furniture category will include water and stain repellent finishes on the outer fabric and also electronic components found in upholstered furniture, including massage chairs and mattresses. The prohibition on PFAS in carpets and rugs category will include artificial turf.

Prohibitions on intentionally added PFAS in the 11 categories of products effective January 2025 are not part of rulemaking and are not subject to “currently unavoidable use” determinations, which are applicable to other products beginning in 2032. For more details and information, visit the PFAS in products disposal recommendations and 2025 PFAS prohibitions webpages.

Other Resources

Recording of the PFAS in Food Packaging Webinar

 

Workplace Posters Updates

Effective Jan 1 2024, employers of 50 or more people are required to display posters explaining new legislation impacting the workplace. Click HERE below to see what posters are required and how to download them.

 

Minnesota State Minimum Wage Increase

Effective January 1, 2024, the minimum wage is now $10.85 an hour for large employers and $8.85 an hour for other state minimum wages. For additional information, click HERE.

 

As of July 1, 2023, non-competition provisions are no longer enforceable against Minnesota employees or independent contractors in most situations.

Minnesota’s law prohibits any covenant not to compete that is contained in a contract or agreement with an employee or independent contractor. READ MORE

 

Pregnancy and Nursing Mothers

On May 24, 2023, Governor Tim Walz signed into law legislation that further expands protections for nursing and pregnant employees in Minnesota. The amendment, included in Senate File 3035, builds on the changes that became effective in January 2022 to Minnesota’s nursing mothers and pregnancy accommodations law (Minn. Stat. § 181.939). READ MORE

 

Crown Act

The CROWN Act adds a definition of race to the Minnesota Human Rights Act to explicitly protect natural hair styles and textures, including but not limited to "braids, locks, and twists." This will ensure that hair discrimination is legally included as a form of racial discrimination. READ MORE

 

Cannabis Use

The legislation creates the framework for adult-use cannabis in Minnesota and establishes a new Office of Cannabis Management, which will regulate cannabis (including for the adult-use market, the Medical Cannabis Program, and for lower-potency hemp edibles) and issue licenses and develop regulations outlining how and when businesses can participate in the industry. READ MORE

 

Captive Audience Act

The statute restricts “employer-sponsored meetings or communication” relating to religious or political matters. It defines “political matters” as those relating to political parties and community, fraternal, or labor organizations, among other things. READ MORE

 

Dual Training Grant Open for Applications

MN Dual Training Grant is currently open for application and will close on April 22. Employers in the industries of Advanced Manufacturing, Agriculture, Child Care, Healthcare Services, IT, Legal Cannabis, and Transportation can apply for up to $6,000 per employee, to be used toward tuition and fee costs, to upskill into a higher paying occupation. For more information, click HERE.

 

Employer Reasonable Accommodation Fund

The Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) Employer Reasonable Accommodation Fund (ERAF) creates a central fund where small to mid-sized Minnesota employers can request reimbursement for expenses related to providing reasonable accommodations for job applicants and employees with disabilities. READ MORE

 

MN Job Skills Partnership Grant Open NOW – Closes May 6th

This grant acts as a catalyst between business and education in developing cooperative training projects that provide training for new jobs or retrain existing employees. Up to $400,000 of Partnership funds per grant can be awarded for a project. A “Short Form” application is available for grants of $50,000 or less, to assist smaller businesses in getting the customized training they need. Eligible Applicants include accredited public and/or private educational institutions partnering with businesses within the state.

Click HERE to view the Grant Fact Sheet. Click HERE to view Workforce Programs.

 

 

COUNTY

Anoka County Board Approves Final 2024 Property Tax Levy

The Anoka County Board of Commissioners approved a 10.4 percent final property tax levy increase at the board’s Dec. 1 meeting.

Priorities for the 2024 budget include providing safe roads and eliminating congestion; working to improve people’s lives; public safety; attracting and retaining a skilled county workforce; and providing clear, accurate and effective information to residents and county staff about county initiatives. READ MORE

 

Anoka County Revolving Loan Fund

Anoka County offers a low-interest rate for job creation and growth-stage businesses (not a good fit for startup businesses or solopreneurs). Effective 2024, the rate has now dropped to 4%. READ MORE